]]>In their adolescence, girls who genuinely like you act as if you do not exist. Most of them never develop from this stage. So, we may speak of the attitude of mature women, vs. the attitude of immature women in a relationship, and in the act of courtship. We recognize the following trends:

The immature woman apologizes, the mature woman compensates.

It’s clear that women, who are loved shine most of the time. But let’s speak of the less pretty moments when she has hurt you and annoyed you. Your immature girlfriend will start apologizing, denying everything as in: “please, I didn’t mean it, please forgive me!” The mature woman snaps out of it fast, and then gives you some of her irresistibility, in the next situation, and when you are completely overwhelmed with her, she asks you if you are still angry with her – so that you can see she remembers what she’s done to you, and that brings you to tears of tender emotion.

The immature woman is needy, while the mature woman is generous.

It’s crystal clear that little people always want something from people around them. One must fuss about them the entire time. Mind you, men really like that, because it sends signals that they are needed, which they relish in. On the other side, the mature woman is the Queen, who is ready at her coronation, to wash the feet of 12 beggars from the capital, to show she is ready to serve the people.

Both suck when you try to make them jealous.

The immature woman will cry her heart out, but she will tell you everything is okay. The mature woman will cry her heart out and she will tell you how much in love she is, and how you have to stop doing this to her. Before she admits it, she might demonstrate how she felt, by making you feel jealous as well – but you should notice the crookedness of her smile – she smiles as if somebody’s poking her with a fork. But at some point, somehow, she will ask, “do not give this pain to me, I do not deserve it!”

Both are suckers for compliments

But if you ask an immature woman if she is fishing for compliments, she denies, while the mature woman admits it with a smile. Besides, the mature woman looks for an occasion to return the compliment.

The basic reasons “real men” are into mature women are the following:

When you try to hurt her, she will nurture your confidence, because she knows that’s what’s wrong.
When you try to deny your needs, she gives everything to you.
She knows how to take care and please.
She is supportive of you, even if you act like a complete idiot to test her.
She will call you first. She will know what to say.
She has a particularly breathtaking and happy ways of giving in.
She’s into you and you know it.

]]>http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/22/mature/feed/0How To Conclude He Likes You?http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/22/he-likes-you/
http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/22/he-likes-you/#respondTue, 22 May 2018 09:44:41 +0000http://lovebooklet.com/?p=6472Men are tricky. Most of them will never admit that ...

]]>Men are tricky. Most of them will never admit that they are enamored. Is it cheesy and below their dignity, we do not know. But even if they do not do anything conscious to admit their love, there are still some reactions that testify the man is in trouble with you and is about to act unreasonably.

You wonder if you are liked – leave alone the poor daisy!
Girls, chances are if he does any of these, he is so much into you:

He follows you around with a heavy gaze.

He literally devours you with eyes. It’s like: oh well, a never was there ever a sight more pleasant than magical Miss You! That should be translated that you are phenomenally pretty to him. Of course, he will never admit, but his eyes give him away. It’s this mystery between you, when your gazes clash into each other…you find out you are dependable.

After he has said something funny, he looks at you.

He wants to impress you the entire time, with all his sentences. He looks for reassurance and he checks if you are on the same wave. He is ready to do anything for your sincere smile. Chances are you will smile benevolently at each other, whatever the circumstances.

He strives to do things differently around you.

He feels he is on a stage the entire time. That could result in two situations: he is not organic and feels tense, or he is very artistic and pleases your senses –that depends on the self-confidence of the man. The artistic is a rare species.

He opens doors for you.

He is polite and generous. He asks you what you want, and serves it to you. Name him after the legendary Swiss chocolate you love – Mr.Toblerone – and you won’t be wrong: he is sweet, unique, the finest taste experience for you. Caramel, bonbon, and chocolate…

He laughs hard when you say something, even if it is not that funny.

He shows appreciation without realizing it. You can have any guy, who thinks you are pretty and funny if only he doesn’t think you are crazy as well.

He will try to solve your problem.

We, women, are the compassionate species. Men are problem-solvers. If you go to a woman with your problem, she will calm and alleviate you, while the man will solve it for you…little do they know that sometimes all we need is to whine, pouring tears on their virile shoulder.

He is ready to eat food off your naked body.

There was this really stupid action movie called Hot Shots, in which Charlie Sheen was practically frying eggs on a woman’s naked body – if a man you know does this, you should know he is definitely into you.

]]>http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/22/he-likes-you/feed/0Good Reasons for Dramahttp://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/21/good-reasons-drama/
http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/21/good-reasons-drama/#respondMon, 21 May 2018 11:48:54 +0000http://lovebooklet.com/?p=6467Lady F is not a drama queen, but she also ...

]]>Lady F is not a drama queen, but she also recognizes several occasions when the female drama is relevant and even “advisory”- in the sense of recommended. So girls fill buckets with tears if and when:

Benefits are gone

You have met and practically ever since, sincere and ardent desires are flowing between you, combined with soulful, and honest friendship, and both of you are aware of it. He has discovered that making love to you is shattering, and it will turn or confuse his world. Guess what, he doesn’t want to do this to himself (no one does). So he will deprive you of the benefits first. Secretly you will long for each other, for nothing has changed since that first night of passion. But he has got a sword with a name, and he has stuck it into your nuptial bed, right in the middle of you, so that you can still look into his eyes, but there is the sword that hinders you from flowing over his form. Thus he keeps you perfectly enamored; he teases you and refuses to alleviate your desires in any way. Girls, cry for Louie…

If you don’t fill the bucket with tears, you will end up in other drama deserving circumstances.

I have a girlfriend

Next thing you learn from your good spiritual friend is that he is not alone. That according to him wouldn’t change the situation between you…only what kind of a girl, he asks, wants to compromise the man, she is in love with, by making him desire her when he is obviously attached. If you don’t step away, he will step on you, which is not good tone even in a Tango. You accept the new regulations with a wounded heart, but still, he reminds you-you are very well connected spiritually. And sex is not important – you are doing much more important stuff together. Again you will submit, but you will howl again a little when no one is looking at you.

If you don’t howl, here’s what comes for you:

I don’t have time for you

Slowly, he is retreating from your world. He expects it to take it naturally since you are a big girl. But you know the poison of jealousy and you know you have things to apologize for, which aren’t entirely your fault. Especially, if you wake up and fall asleep with his name on your mind, and the rest of time, you think of him…every two minutes or so. You are ready to destroy your comfort zone, and leave no trace of dignity in you if only you could get him back.

This is ten percent luck
Twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure
Fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

Manners

Even peacocks are educated how to do it. They attract the females with an open trembling tail with thousands of eyes. The men I am captivated by open doors for the ladies and give them the eye. They hold their hands on mountain terrain and when they descend on stairs. 200 years ago they bowed slightly and kissed the hand of the lady or even bit on it impassionately. They serve the soup for her first, and then pour the wine without trembling. Even they swear, they do it with style – style, that’s what I remember!

Showering of attention

That includes presents, delicious stuff left on the pillow and quarreling over a piece of chocolate, mouth to mouth. Also combing and arranging her hair and letting her groom your growing beard for you. A serenade, a boat trip, an irresistible journey, he shares the joys of life with you – by taking you to desolate islands and high towers, medieval towns and huge, fantastic cities. Restaurants, hot coffee, and croissants, high-tea in Ritz, riding a camel, a horse, an elephant… buying spices like saffron that you can use to cook together. Of course, the greatest generosity – attention – he’s got you on his mind the entire time.

Riches

I do not mean the content of their wallet, or how many jeeps and camels they possess. An attractive man has got a rich individuality, he is well-read, finely-brought and chiseled, he is not impressed by wealth since he carries it in his heart. He is smart, benevolent, soulful and charming. The way he speaks reveals his deep intelligence and he is gifted with a sense of humor. Unlike all the other men – he’s got the wits and the wisdom. He is kind-hearted; he is self-confident, and noble – to the extent that he is ready to gift his car to a person in need, and never for one moment feel sorry for this decision. If he has a yacht, he will probably donate it as charity. He never feels so financially insecure that he can’t take you for a pizza. He is gifted with that percentage of the concentrated power of will… and only that stops him from making out with you in any setting.

Being a good lover

Pick the one who touches the tips of your hair and caresses your nails. Pick the one who scratches your naked back with his beard. He will practically absorb you with eyes when you are several meters away from each other…When you stand next to him, one can cut the air between you with a knife like butter. When he touches you, your body flows as an extension of his body. You imagine all the time love coming in waves between both of you. He is absolutely aware of his power over you.

Listening

Let’s face it: mothers are selfless, but female lovers are egocentric. They want the world to revolve around them. They want their charms exaggerated the entire time by the men they are intrigued by. They want to hear all the time, how lovely, and talented and fascinating and different they are, how noble, and generous and devoted they are…they want to hear the entire time how great their works and “what a piece of work” they are. If a man manages to listen to a woman closely for two months, chances are she will go berserk with passion after the two months have passed. It is natural for women to attach to men, who give them their admiration and attention, even though they are burdened with glorious purposes…

]]>http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/18/percent/feed/0The Gentleman With The Roseshttp://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/17/gentleman-with-the-roses/
http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/17/gentleman-with-the-roses/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 15:08:52 +0000http://lovebooklet.com/?p=6455Once upon a time in Paris lived a bewitching lady. ...

]]>Once upon a time in Paris lived a bewitching lady. She used to sit naked next to the window pane and have her hot coffee and a croissant while watching pedestrians walking under her house window. One day a small, pearl-white dove perched right next to her carrying a small note tied to its leg. Slowly, she opened the note which was hemmed in golden and besprinkled with a male perfume. It had just one word written on it: “Rendezvous.”

She smelled the lovely scent, then folded the note and placed it in the jar with the sugar, for she was really messy. Then she continued her favorite thing in the world – sipping hot coffee and people watching. She didn’t think much of the note – all French girls once upon a time in their lives have secret adorers.

Then she walked naked around her kitchen and started preparing pancakes. She skillfully tossed the pancakes in the air and then she couldn’t catch them quite well. But she had a lot of fun doing this. While she was feasting on the ready pancakes and she had both cheeks full of chewed food, she heard a ring at the door. Who could it be at this time of the day, she wondered. When she looked through the cotter she saw a man who was carrying a huge bouquet of roses, which was hiding his entire face, but a cadet’s blue hat. When she finally managed to open the door – she saw him walking away in a soldier’s, confident bearing. In front of the porch lay the beautiful bouquet of scarlet roses. Beside them, she discovered another note, written on a white paper serviette. In calligraphic writing it was written: “These roses are the color of my heart. If you want to see the color of my soul, come to the town fountain tomorrow.”

A man with a red heart – she said. That’s so fine and fair! Red means fire. He is bound to succeed. He probably brings more good luck than a four-leaved clover. And he must be alert as a tower bell. But what if he is aggressive, or mad, or violent? Will he compensate by being also intense, triumphant, romantic and sensual? Rare is his heart – a garden of red roses, each more appealing than the other.

A night of dreams had passed. She woke up happy and invigorated and dressed as if she is going to the wedding of her best friend, and she is trying to outmatch the bride. It was early morning, the sun was appearing at its hour and she was walking her brisk but feminine gait towards the city fountain – the one with the little ducks who swam gently on its surface. Next, to the fountain – wonder that it hadn’t disappeared was a lavish bouquet of yellow roses, and a handkerchief on which was embroidered the following invitation: “Come to the bird zoo tomorrow, to see my hopes…”

He aspires, he is original, he must be a poet, a happy and prosperous and talented poet. Yellow is my favorite color, summer is my most beloved season of all, and I hardly can carry the heaviness of this yellow bouquet – absolutely the most beautiful I have seen.

Needless to say on the next day, she stood at the cage of the owl in the city garden, on which was written: “Please, do not feed the birds. If you have food for them, please give it to the security guards.” And next to the cage with the peacock with the stretched tail, trembling with affection, she saw another bouquet in the color of adventure, calmness, cleanliness, laziness and life in general: each rose in rare, luminous green!

Wow, she sighed as she opened the next note with fingers trembling with impatience. The card said: “Come to the castle gate tomorrow, and I will show you the color of my feelings for you.”

“Goodness. Should I go?” – she was sitting naked on the window’s pane and watching people go by with the perfect cup of coffee…but then she saw a couple on the street, and the man was handing to his girlfriend one red rose. One rose! She put on the most casual summer dress, and she ran to the castle gate. While she was approaching she saw a whole rainbow of roses, and in the midst of it – her true love smiling that heavenly smile.

Mine is a wonderful story about a little boy and a little girl, who once met at a winter resort.

I was four and he was seven.

At the time of our first encounter, he was playing chess with his mother on a small table in the hotel lobby, where I happened to be present. I walked to the table with the impertinence of a four-year auld. Since I was not very tall, I placed my nose carefully on the edge of the table with the huge chess set and started inspecting it in a very concerned manner. With the insolence of youth, I stood there silently, without movement, obviously immersed in observation, but without interrupting the players. At some point, I broke my numbness and went closer to the mother, caught her by the shoulder and pulled her towards me, in order to whisper in her ear:

“Take his Castle with the Queen!”

The woman, whose name I have forgotten, was powerfully distracted. She wanted to know my name. This is how I got presented to who was to become my first love.

Next thing I remember is walking hand in hand in the forest and seeing a doe.

I was four and he was seven, he had some Russian lineage…for he taught me to sing a song in Russian…I still remember how it goes:

“Let there always be the sun,
Let there always be the sky,
Let there always be Mommy,
Let there always be me!”

I was so impressed by the song, that I used the toilet paper in the hotel to write a detailed letter to my mom, which ended with the song in question.

This basically is the story of my first love. I remember nothing else but holding his hand in the forest. He was a little bit higher than me.

I wonder what became of him. Where have the winds of life taken him? Does he still remember that little girl, who used to wear her hair short, although she dreamed to have long hair? The girl whose favorite possession was a skirt decorated with butterflies, which flew all around when she turned. The little girl, who once washed her teeth 30 times, for all the mornings she had skipped on this activity. The one who could write letters in large, printed, deformed letters, who managed to take Castles with a Queen at the delicate age of four… does he still remember this warm touch, and this company, and this harmony that connected us. Maybe he is now a professor in a Russian university; maybe he is married with kids, maybe he has felt as forlorn as me in times, maybe he has forgotten all about this story – facts are I vaguely remember his touch, but he touched me gently.

“Until I learned to love myself, I was never, ever loved by anybody else…”

Do you sometimes wonder why each little bird has a someone?

It seems like love passes by most of us, and leaves us poor and wretched – always sad. Not all of us have faces fair as milk, and the suitable genetic tree, enough money or…gravity to pull people towards us. We can’t stir a love potion. But we can still make coffee, right? Generally:

“Love hurts! Love scars!”

Does it?

Love scares us all. We crave for it so much, but we cannot recognize it. It’s actually all around us – but not the love that you feel in your fingers and your toes, and makes you practically intoxicated. No – the chance to love and be loved is all around you the entire time, you just have to take it…

It’s in our prayers all the time, and it actually surrounds us…like in the prayer:

Treat people as if they are gods: treat them your coffee. Adore them, serve them, make pancakes for them, encourage them, support them, kiss their hands and their cheeks, hug them, and button the last button on their shirt. Be like a huge white wedding cake. Listen to their hearts.

I am of the opinion that love needn’t be so clingy. You are not with a person, because he or she makes you feel complete – you have to be complete by yourself. People who are dependable and attached to each other, have a lot of requirements from each other. Love is all about giving and not expecting a single thing in return. If you have problems giving – you are not spiritually evolved. Little people always ask for things. Their spiritually evolved friends provide them with stuff. On the most basic of planes, they feed them, shelter them, clean for them, trot about them and serve them, and you know what? They are most of the time happier than all the other people. Love. The seventh wave…

On the other levels, spiritually evolved people give support, encourage others, involve themselves in artistic activities, focus their light on people, and make everyone around them balanced and happy. This is the true power of love.

When you look around – the world is full of grateful beings. Choose a grateful being, and bestow your romantic cravings on him or her.

Each little bird has a someone.

People have soulmates.

But how is one to find your soul mate? – everybody would ask.

You don’t find them. You grant them the honorary title of being your soul mate.

Does that mean you can love anyone?

No. You can bestow your grace on people who are as equally evolved as you. Anything else will be a charity – and here we speak of the love, which drives the worlds.

Does that mean you can love anyone?

Yes. That’s a sort of a personal project. You can love people, because that will transform them, but you cannot give in to people, who are not as evolved as you. Period.

But the spring, the core, the generator of love is inside all of us…we are bountiful and rich, beyond our imagination, we are happy and blessed, and reside in love and joy, and this is not just nice ordering of words.

Needless to say, I watched it to treat myself more of Loki of Asgard. This time I was fairly disappointed. I hate the guy.

Loki from Thor Ragnarock is an accomplished character, while in Avengers he is only a flat character, without dimensions. In other words, he is an antagonistic crap.

I don’t want to watch movies, in which the Earth is threatened by freaking iron invaders from another planet. That is truly a disaster – who wants to see interior and exterior being destroyed by faceless monsters which appear from a different dimension. Who wants to see people running in the streets and screaming, and dying in a terrible way? Who likes green monsters, which can’t control their power, for the life of them? Who wants to see incessant battles, who wants to be constantly tortured whether the good guys will win…which is why I stayed glued to the action movie screen, because I expected some kind of revelation, when the good guys actually would win. Well, I got no revelation. I simply got unnerved.

I don’t need to watch a vandalistic destruction of people, objects, even formidable ones such as alien spaceships. I am not interested in the latest technology miracle, which will facilitate people and aliens to kill each other. In action movies usually there are more weapons than people, and the few people keep violating each other, even though most of them are obviously immortals. I don’t like it when everybody is in danger, and when the enemy aliens have to die in terrible ways – well, poor aliens. Who brought them in the movie for Pete’s sake?

How can we become peaceful in our intentions, when since Roman times we have been entertaining ourselves with violence? Of course, we could say that people died on the arenas in those times, while for the making of a movie, no one suffers. But our lust after violence has remained, and it is boosted by action movies. They develop in darkness, and the only light comes from weapons and bombs.

Loki is actually malicious, to my great distaste. I saw him in a different way in Thor Ragnarock. He was artful and cunning, truly he was vain like an actor, but he was not plain mean. Loki in the Avengers is truly pitiful in his motifs, as well as his total lack of sentimentality.

Well, I guess, Tom Hiddleston stays in my heart, for even when playing the vicious Loki, he has got an enchantment, which can’t be ignored. But Loki goes down…I will rewrite him…so that he is pleasing to my soul… unlike action movies.

]]>http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/06/the-avengers/feed/0Philosophy of Travelhttp://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/03/istanbul-2/
http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/03/istanbul-2/#respondThu, 03 May 2018 07:46:00 +0000http://lovebooklet.com/?p=6425Istanbul – Real I went to Istanbul with great expectations ...

I went to Istanbul with great expectations for a rich journey. I anticipated delving deep into a diverse culture, a wild experience that would almost enlighten me. I came back invigorated and happy, it was a wonderful trip, but I still think it could have been better.

Asia has always been alluring to me, to switch between the two continents with the metro, which goes under the water for not more than five minutes was to me a formidable experience. I saw flowers and technology, I went high and low, I travelled on a ship, I ate local food and I drank Turkish coffee, I heard things I loved and things I hated. Needless to say I was moved, but still I think it could have been better.

Unfortunately, you cannot trot about Istanbul by yourself. You travel with a group of strangers, although very amicable and polite. Chances are you will also travel with some people you hold dear, but in the Group, they cannot pay much attention to you. The Group moves at a constant hectic pace, instructed the entire time by the tour guide. You don’t really communicate with anyone else, but the guides during the tour. You hardly have a time to exchange a word, and that is unfortunate for a communicative Gemini. The trip is not interactive, it’s like watching a TV show.

Luckily all of us fell in love with our tour guide – Nazmie. Nazmie knows Istanbul well, she speaks excellent Bulgarian, she is very open-minded and she believes all of us have one God, we only call him by different names. She wears her white hair short, and wears no veil. She was an inspiration to the entire group – we felt like a class guided by our favorite teacher.

Museums are all dead. I like living, sizzling culture. I don’t care to know, how and when a building was built, when it was burned, who paid for its restoration, I don’t want to know. I am not interested in objects, but rather in people. Their stories are much more fascinating to me. People are mostly interested in facts and information, as I said I am most enchanted by communication.

It could have been better. But how?

Never visit a foreign city without bringing in some romance.

Istanbul – Imagined

I am quite certain in a past life I have been a concubine of a sultan. Like a veiled woman, I often lower my gaze and do not look at men straight in the eyes, rather at the level of their T-Shirts. Oh, the inscriptions on human T-Shirts!

So next time I go to Istanbul, I will be equipped with a boyfriend. Both of us will walk in Istanbul, holding hands, carrying with us napkins for our happy tears, walking really close to each other, anticipating intimacy.

My boyfriend is so handsome, veiled women ogle at him. He speaks Turkish fluently and he knows a lot of cultural particularities, for he has studied in a Turkish University. He is curious, polite, communicative and passionate about diverse cultures.

I believe Istanbul with its sultry climate will inspire great passions in us.

We will visit the places of worship, and he will tell me how he meditates on angels. He has a small room for meditation in his house, a personal altar adorned with different pictures of enlightening and beautiful beings.

He is also a painter and mosaics strike him straight in the heart. He is a born prince, grown in luxury, very mannerly, so affluence does not surprise him, he was raised in splendor.

We will definitely drink Turkish coffee in the restaurant of the ship that is going to take us along the Bosphorus. We will definitely go to a Turkish bath for a massage. He will photograph me among the tulips in the park. His brilliant sense of humor will keep me fresh and invigorated.

My boyfriend makes the best pastry in the world. Since he knows the secrets of Istanbul chefs, he takes me where the most wonderful food is. We stroll in the Grand Bazaar, where we buy saffron for our cooking events and souvenirs for our friends. We will try every local cuisine specialty, but we will mostly feed by looking in each other’s sparkling eyes.

]]>http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/03/istanbul-2/feed/0Visiting Istanbulhttp://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/02/istanbul/
http://lovebooklet.com/2018/05/02/istanbul/#respondWed, 02 May 2018 16:59:52 +0000http://lovebooklet.com/?p=6375The City With The Many Names History has graced this ...

History has graced this appealing settlement with many different names – among them Constantinople and Istanbul are the most outstanding. But it has also been called New Rome, Byzantion, Antoniniana, Queen of Cities, Miklagard, Tsarigrad, The Gate of Happiness. Constantinople was named after the Roman Emperor also known as Constantine, the Great.

The name Constantine stands for “constant and steadfast” in Latin.

In 1548 Pierre Giles wrote that “Constantinople alone seems to have a kind of immortality and will continue to be a city as long as humanity shall live either to inhabit it or rebuild it.” The name Istanbul, on the other hand, is derived from the Greek phrase “eis ten Polin,” which means “to the City.” Perhaps it remained The City (Istanbul) for that name was most eloquent of all.

Istanbul is one of the most attractive tourist destinations known to humans. It’s the only city that lies spread across two continents: you stand in Europe, but you see the shores of Asia.

The origins of Istanbul are rooted in the childhood of Western civilization. It was founded by the ancient Greeks in 667 BC, who gave it the name Byzantium. It is the most strategically founded city in the world. Because of its location, the city controlled the trade for the Black Sea – and it became and remained prosperous. This city has been a capital of four great empires: Latin, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. It is visited by ten million tourists a year. How this city came to dominate its worlds is a story worth learning.

Arriving in Istanbul

The most fabulous way to arrive in it from Paris is the Orient Express Train:

white table covers, red velvet chairs, crystal, napkins, golden curtains and pink lampshades, heavy luxury, and style – this six-day pleasure costs £5700. If it feels strange to want to travel around for this sum of money, you can always take a fast plane or a modest bus.

Or you can arrive by ship at the natural harbor of Istanbul, called the Golden Horn: it is the major inlet of Bosphorus – shaped like a horn. Historians believe that “golden” stands for the riches brought by merchants of different origin and culture, which heaped at its shores. The search for profit gave birth to the City of Istanbul. Even nowadays you can see plenty of men fishing at the Golden Horn.

Traffic

In this urban marvel, taxis and buses, and even ordinary automobiles jam the streets, navigated by men with their hands habitually on the horn. Crowds cross the street even when the red light is on in this noisy chaos, second only to Cairo in its freedom of street movement.

Monuments of Culture

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia – or Holy Wisdom in Greek is a breathtaking place of worship built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Its construction required ten thousand workers and materials from Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Ephesus. Its entire name means: “Shrine of the Holy Wisdom of God.” It was originally a church, but after Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire’s leader Mehmed the Conqueror, the building was converted into a mosque. Allegedly, after building this miraculous museum, Justinian exclaimed “Solomon I have outdone thee!” – comparing his architectural achievement to the Temple of the Biblical King Solomon. Walking inside makes worth the hours you are going to spend queuing in front of the historical building. It is the story of western civilization in one building; you can get lost in architecture, religion, art and history. People love it for its enormous dome made by marble, stone and special bricks.

There are many superstitions and city legends about the mosaics and icons of Hagia Sophia. Rumor has it that Constantinople never fell thanks to the four identical angels depicted on its dome – six winged seraphims, which protected the Lord’s Throne in Heaven.

One can dive into the history of different civilizations. Even if you are not religious this place inspires so much awe. The mosaics, which delight the eyes, glitter in gold and among them are the Virgin with the Child – a serene and tender depiction of Madonna and her Jesus,

as well as images of the Imperial couples and Jesus.

Images are really powerful things. Gold is employed to represent the divine light of heaven. There is a column with a hole in the middle, covered by bronze place – also named the perspiring column, or the wishing column, and it has become blessed and is known to have a healing effect on humans. Legend has it that Emperor Justinian was wandering in Hagia Sophia with a severe headache – he leaned his head to this column and realized his headache was gone. People started believing that if they put their finger into that hole and rub the ill place, the disease will go away.

Topkapi Palace

The gate to Topkapi Sarai opens early in the morning with the first prayer and closes at night after the last. Sometimes a sultan allowed himself to shoot random passersby from the gate – purely for enjoyment.

Surrounded by the sea, it’s a fantastic complex of courtyards, gardens, fountains, harem, royal kitchens, and a treasury which is a collection of priceless antiques, including the biggest diamond in the world.

In this beautiful space, there are layers upon layers of historical splendor. It is crowded with tourists, but it is very nice.

There is a hall of Holy Relics inside, filled with artifacts, which belonged to various prophets from the Quran and the Bible – still intact – like the scepter of Moses, or the sword of King David, if you are prone to believing… To history loving visitors, it can present a disappointment – for there is no real indication what life in the Sultan premises would have been like – only exhibitions of weapons and artifacts.

Do visit the harem! The women of the Sultan, even closed for their lifetime, have delighted in most refined luxury. Look at the windows, the walls, and let your fantasy play wildly.

Dolmabahce Palace

Here in the gardens, there are fountains and birds, such as seagulls, ducks, roosters and even peacocks. We delighted immensely in a courting dance of one of the peacocks – he had opened his fairy tail, and was trembling with excitement, wooing his lady in an exquisite and unexpected manner – the best natural scene of animal intelligence and tenderness I have ever come across.

Statues of lions are lying in the grass by the sternly arranged yellow tulips. Bosphorus is seen through the windows of the main entrance hall Medhal. Rooms are full of the interior which is almost unbearably luxurious –heavy draperies, chandeliers, mirrors in golden frames on the wall, broad red-carpeted stairs, statues, vases, heavily ornamented ceilings, and even a grand piano, as well as belongings in glass, gold, and porcelain deserving of a King. The Palace is a Turkish imitation of Versailles, and many of the beautiful objects you will come upon are imported from France.

Skyscraper Sapphire

It’s the tallest mall building, the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world and it provides a skyline panoramic view of the entire city. You can have your coffee on the very top. There is also a 4D cinema feature.

Blue Mosque

Perhaps the most elegant sight in Istanbul, known for its six slender minarets is the Blue Mosque. Architecturally, it rivals the Great Mosque in Mecca – the holiest in all Islam. All Muslims face Mecca in their time of worship. In the Blue Mosque, you park your shoes at the door and women cover their heads. The interior is adorned with exquisite floral and geometrical motifs, and because of its blue tiles, it is named the Blue Mosque. Blue is a fascinating color to the Turkish people – enough for the French people to call it the color of Turks, or turquoise. In mosques instead of saints and prophets, you can see geometrical designs and calligraphy. According to the Turkish tradition, the Imam would climb to the top of a minaret to call the faithful to prayer. The call is always the same: “Allah Akbar, God is great, there is only one God, Muhammad is His Prophet, Come join the prayer, come join the salvation!”

Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is the place, where you can feel the legendary Turkish hospitability. The merchants treat you to entice you to buy their goods, then bargaining is obligatory. Sellers stop you on the street with delicious offers. Even if you are not looking for anything, in particular, you can come upon a bargain: a handcrafted silk rug, brand name jeans or the perfect cup of tea. There is also the aromatic Spice Bazaar, where you can get saffron and cinnamon and curry, and all kind of pleasant aromatic herbs and spices, which once were as expensive as gold itself.

The Iron Church St. Stephen

This is a Bulgarian Orthodox Church made of iron elements weighing 500 tons, which were produced in Vienna and transported to Istanbul by ship. Located in a small, attractive park, on the bank of the Golden Horn, it is one of the first portable churches and it’s quite elegant with its golden vaults.

Aqueduct

The Valens Aqueduct was the major water-providing system of Constantinople, completed by Roman Emperor Valence, maintained and used by the Byzantines and later the Ottomans, and it still remains one of the iconic city landmarks.

A Trip on A Ship

Seagulls float in the air around your water vessel, and the wind plays with your hair. You squint at the setting Sun, and the strident wind may cause you discomfort, but no pain, no gain. If you are smarter you will sit downstairs in the ship’s restaurant, where you can still see the beautiful banks with the churches and the palaces, and reside in a normal temperature, while sipping hot Turkish coffee. Bosphorus carries you and you pass silently by the beautiful palaces and mosques that reside on its banks.

Cafes and Restaurants

If you treat a female company with one male child in a café or a restaurant, prepare the infant to receive the bill – for he is the man! Things you definitely have to try in Istanbul: hookah, Turkish delight, Turkish coffee, baklava… Truly Istanbul is a food haven. They do not eat pork, therefore they would put lamb in anything. Careful with the spicy food! In some places, after 10 you can enjoy a variety program of belly dancers, dressed in flamboyant colors.